Imaging of the heart with computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular imaging
• Medical imaging technology
• Radiology

Background:

• Cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging has evolved substantially since its introduction in the 1980s.
• Rapid advancements in CT technology have led to its integration into routine clinical practice for cardiac assessments.
• This review focuses on the technological progression and clinical utility of various CT scanner generations for heart imaging.

Observation:

• Early cardiac CT utilized Electron Beam CT (EBCT).
• Subsequent developments include single-slice CT and multi-detector row CT (MDCT) with increasing slice capabilities (4, 16, and 64 slices).
• Current CT scanners possess limitations that hinder optimal cardiac imaging.

Findings:

• The review details the technological advancements and clinical performance of EBCT, single-slice CT, and MDCT (4, 16, 64 slices).
• Limitations of existing CT scanners for cardiac imaging are identified.
• Potential areas for technological improvement are highlighted.

Implications:

• Future cardiac imaging may benefit from alternative system concepts.
• Emerging technologies like CT with area detectors and dual-source CT (DSCT) show promise for enhanced cardiac imaging.
• Continued innovation in CT technology is expected to further improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical applications in cardiology.